Automatic apparatus for storing and dispensing packaged medication and other small elements

Abstract

The system includes a bin hopper which temporarily stores a plurality of small elements, such as medications. The elements are moved out of the bin and singulated into a one-by-one sequence by a series of singulating conveyors. The resulting sequence of elements is moved onto a main system conveyor where the element is identified and then moved to a loading mechanism which arranges the item so it is ready to be gripped and stored. The system includes a mass storage apparatus comprising a series of four upstanding cylindrical drums, each having a plurality of individually accessible and addressable cell storage locations for the elements. A gripping apparatus removes the elements from the loading mechanism and transfers them to a selected location in a cylindrical drum. When an article is to be dispensed, the drum is rotated so that an ejection arm comes adjacent the desired location in the drum. The ejector arm is actuated, pushing the small element out of its slot, into the center of the drum, where it falls onto a conveyor which moves the dispensed item from the system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to an apparatus for automatically receiving individually packaged medical elements, such as medications, as well as other small, packaged elements into a storage container, singulating the elements from the storage container, processing the elements for storage in individually accessible locations in a mass storage system and retrieving the stored elements from the mass storage system individually upon command. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] There are many known systems for storing and dispensing medications and other small elements. Some of these systems are entirely mechanical, with selections by the user being made by hand. Other, more recent systems are either semi-automatic or automatic, with electronic controllers. Examples of such apparatus are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,901 to Buharazzi and U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,515 to Lift et al. Another apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,587, which is assigned to the assign...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Most of the automated systems are complex in design and operation, relatively large and typically quite expensive.

Further, many such systems are inefficient and unreliable.

They also are too slow in output.

For instance, typical known commercial systems are unable to meet the medication-dispensing requirements of a large hospital.

One significant disadvantage of conventional automatic dispensing systems is that they typically must be loaded by hand.

Further, many dispensing systems are inherently limited to either one or a relatively few packaging configurations.

Both repackaging and overpackaging, however, are inconvenient, expensive and time-consuming, even when carried out at the healthcare facility or other facility which uses small packaged elements.

There is typically a significant ambiguity if not antipathy relative to, for example, overpackaging carried out at a user's facility.

Lastly, in all medication-dispensing systems, as well as for other packaged elements, there exists the issue of returned elements which have not been used.

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